Geospatial Inteligent Mobile Application – Touch Inspect

I am not much on mobile GIS as I spend much of my time in the office, but this new technology is one of a kind. The release of the Touch Inspect™ has been out for a few months. It is put out by Mobile Epiphany which was founded in 2008. Mobile Epiphany is a Colorado-based software development company that creates enterprise class mobile solutions that improve workflow and productivity across a variety of industries.

Touch Inspect™ was designed to collect a wide variety of data types in the field using capabilities far beyond simple forms and barcode scans. The application uses GPS to allow workers to map the location of individual assets as well as search for them by proximity to the user. Using an array of multimedia features, users can gather more detailed visual information about assets as well. For example, a utility inspector could take a picture of a metal power pole then use the drawing tool to circle rust spots in the picture and save it to the inspection history. Inspectors who see the pole at some later date could then call up the picture for comparison, to see if the rust spots have grown, and decide whether or not to recommend maintenance. Mobile epiphany refers to this as one part of field decision support.

The new application also solves data problems associated with other solutions. Data loss is prevented by storing information on the handheld device itself, then transmitting it to the database when a connection is available. Even if the connection is lost, the data is safely stored on the device for later transmission. Another noteworthy feature is the ability to transmit data in real time and auto-generate reports in moments.

Unlike other applications which require server setup time and cost (not to mention that everyone doesn’t have their own IT department), Touch Inspect™ allows their system to be purchased monthly (Software as a Subscription) or hosted quarterly, meaning the users do not have to even think about server technology. That approach makes functionality that was traditionally only available to the largest of corporations now readily available to small and medium size business users. It is designed to be configured in hours and start running almost immediately. And for the larger enterprises that insist on housing their own servers, Mobile Epiphany makes the technology available in that format as well.

The new application also solves data problems associated with other solutions. Data loss is prevented by storing information on the handheld device itself, then transmitting it to the database when a connection is available. Even if the connection is lost, the data is safely stored on the device for later transmission. Another noteworthy feature is the ability to transmit data in real time and auto-generate reports in moments.

As the name implies, the interface is finger-touch based with large, color-coded graphics and minimal, but bold and easy-to-read text for faster navigation. Other design features such as multi-function buttons keep the screen uncluttered while still allowing for high levels of intuitive functionality. And because Touch Inspect™ is easily configurable, it allows users to define their own work flow, meaning that the application can be specifically tailored to any industry that needs enterprise level asset inspection among a host of many other mobile data needs.